Chestnut Cliff Farm

The Bardell Family Farm since 1839

About CCF

Markets

We participate in several farmers markets during the growing season. Here's where you can find us in 2019 and 2020:

Edgebrook Center Farmers Market in Rockford on Wednesdays from 9 to 1 pm

Stephenson County Farmers Market in downtown Freeport on Saturday mornings from 8 to 12

We also have open hours here at the farm on Fridays from 10 am to 6 pm. The Foundations Farmstore is under construction, but we have a small store set up on our porch. Check the In Season page to see what we have in stock.

Organic - on the way to No-Till

YES!!! We received certification in November 2019. Our hoophouse is "transitional" because we could not prove some cover crop seed was not treated in 2017, so our tomatoes and cucumbers in 2020 will be "transitional," but of course grown using organic compliant methods. All field grown produce will be certified in 2020. We are proud of the way we grow. In fact, we are converting a large portion of the garden into No-Till permanent beds. This helps conserve soil biota which helps to make our vegetables more nutrient dense. No-till is the next Organic. I'm betting my business on it.

Grass Based Meats

Our beef is raised on 100% grass from our own land. No spray. No antibiotics or hormones or vaccines. Just beef the way nature intended.

Our pork is pasture-raised, rotated as needed to fresh pasture, and fed organic corn, organic animal grade milk from the dairy down the road, and scraps from the garden. (a lot of tea grounds from the kombucha!)

Stewing Chickens are also fed organic feed, and are free range, with access to the outdoors (and sometimes they get into the hoophouse and gardens - those rascals!)